Dean Elgar props up Surrey first-innings against Gloucestershire

South Africa opener Dean Elgar marked his home debut for Surrey with 98 as the hosts were made to labour to 279-5 on day one of the Championship match with Gloucestershire at The Oval.

Elgar dug Surrey out of an early hole, coming in at 43-2 to add 131 for the third wicket with Zafar Ansari, who batted for almost four hours for his 64 before he was trapped in front by Jack Taylor in the last over before tea.

Taylor's off-spin also accounted for Elgar, who was undone trying to hit him over the top for a third six, slicing to Michael Klinger at backward point.

Ansari had earlier shared an opening stand of 42 with Rory Burns, playing his first game since he was knocked unconscious in a collision with Moises Henriques in a Twenty20 game at Arundel two weeks ago. 

Burns, who cannot remember anything about the horrific incident that left him needing stitches in cuts near his left eye, began by clipping the first ball of the match confidently for three and was looking good on 21 when Gloucestershire broke through with two wickets in six balls - Burns caught behind driving at Liam Norwell before Arun Harinath edged Craig Miles to first slip.

Ansari stood firm, however, and Elgar, who has replaced Kumar Sangakkara as Surrey's overseas player while he is away playing for Sri Lanka, soon looked at ease in his new surroundings.

Ansari, dropped at third slip off Norwell on 22, needed 187 balls to reach 50 with only four fours, but was just becoming more expansive with two more boundaries when he fell to Taylor.

Gloucestershire gained some late reward for their toil in the south London sunshine when Norwell bowled Jason Roy for 14.